A Muslim Manifesto on Darfur

I have recently been in contact with the Muslim Alliance of North-America (M.A.N.A.), an organization which is essentially a network of masajid, Muslim organizations, communities and their respective leadership working together to address immediate issue of the North American Muslim community. It is an impressive collection of activists, scholars and community leaders that are making strides toward real development in Muslim communities around the U.S.

I will be publishing articles on their quarterly newsletter entitled GrassRoots from time-to-time and I have also been given the go-ahead to publish some essays and excerpts of literature written by members of the organization, some of which include: Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Luqman Abdul Haqq, Ihsan Bagby and others. It is a formative collection of activists, scholars and community leaders that are making strides toward real development in Muslim communities around the U.S.

The first MANA publication that I will post on this blog is an excerpt on activism concerning Darfur. The excerpt is by Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid, the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood and it is a powerful piece which aims at a noble resolution:

MANA | Social Activism
By Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid
The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood

“O You who believe! Stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses unto Allāh, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor. Allāh protects you both (much) better. So follow not the desires (of your hearts), because you may swerve, and if you distort justice, or decline to do justice; surely Allāh is Well-Acquainted with all that you do.” (Qur’ān, 4:135)

“Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said The Almighty has said, ‘O, My servants! I have forbidden oppression and injustice for Myself, and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another’.” (authenticated by Imām Muslim)

Introduction:

Over the past few years the tragic circumstances in Dārfūr, Sudān in Western Africa, has come to be globally recognized as a moral, humanitarian, and human rights crises of monstrous proportions. While there has been and continues to be debate as to whether or not the actions committed there constitute genocide, there can be no doubt that the indigenous African people of Darfur are the victims of an evil and deliberate injustice, which demands redress.

This tragedy is compounded by the fact that even though the wrongdoers and the wronged are both Muslims, the Muslim world has been largely silent in the face of the flagrant transgressions of both the Sudānese government (GoS) and their paramilitary proxy, the Janjaweed. The crimes committed in the Western Sudān violate the laws of the Qur’ān and Sunna (prophetic tradition of Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullāh, The Messenger of Allāh, may the peace and blessings of Almighty Allāh be upon him) recognized universally by Muslims, as well as international human rights and humanitarian laws, recognized by people of various faiths.

During the Clinton White House years and before, a vicious propaganda campaign was waged against the Sudān in and around that country’s Civil War. U.S. and other Western interests fired volley after volley of misinformation at Africa’s largest country, which sits at the crossroads of the African and Arab world – “The Sudānese government is sponsoring slavery”. “Members of the Sudānese government are terrorists”. “The Sudānese government let Bin Laden get away”. “The Sudānese government intentionally creates famines in Africa when it should be feeding everyone”. One lie followed the other and they made great sensationalist press.

American and British-based Christian evangelical groups, desiring a foot-hold in Africa where Islām flourishes, manufactured a slave redemption scam to great publicity in their respective countries. Once the claims of wide-spread sanctioned enslavement of Africans were exposed as fraudulent, and millions of dollars had been collected to fund Christian evangelistic efforts in Africa, little was heard about it.

Politically astute men and women in both the underdeveloped and developed worlds, recognized that what Noam Chomsky calls “an engineering of public consent” was taking place; designed to set the Sudān up for a political fall, and possible an American-sponsored coup and occupation.

Complicating matters further, in the Sudān during the presidencies of both Clinton and George W.Bush, some of the ugliest and most heinous atrocities and events (such as the Nuba Mountain military campaign) largely escaped public notice for several years. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “War is deception”, and the wisdom of that statement has never been lost on the Muslims.

Currently, the image of the United States as a global champion of “truth, justice, and the American Way” is steadily diminishing. People who trusted that the American government would be truthful in matters of freedom aren’t so sure anymore. When the events of Sept. 11th occurred and President Bush slipped up and used the word “crusade” in a speech targeting Muslims, global suspicion of his true motivations, and those of his administration were heightened.

There can be no doubt that there are actors on the world stage who want to victimize the Sudānese people and their government. These “wolves in sheep’s clothing” come in a variety of guises. They are the various economic powers who want to gain access to Sudanese oil, the Evangelical Christians who want to convert the Muslims in Sudan into Christians, the Western Warmongers who want to continue quietly opening their military bases all over Africa, Zionist elements allied with all of the above and crying crocodile tears for the people of Dārfūr while continuing to oppress the Palestinians – all of them want a weaker, divided Sudān that will be easier to control, manipulate and exploit, for their own interests.

History records that U.S. and European imperialist powers are responsible for the genocidal slave trade that decimated Africa, the genocide of the Indigenous population of the Americas, the colonial wars and occupations that looted three-quarters of the globe. German imperialism was responsible for the genocide of Jewish people. To call for military intervention by these same powers without checks and balances provided by the International Community, as the answer to conflicts among the people of Dārfūr, is to ignore 500 years of history. This must never happen.

Uncle Sam has often used his tremendous political power and influence in the UN Security Council, to get resolutions endorsing its plans to send U.S. troops into other countries. None were on humanitarian missions. U.S. troops carrying the UN flag invaded Korea in 1950 in a war that resulted in more than 4 million deaths. Still flying that flag, they have occupied and divided the Korean peninsula for over 50 years.

At the urging of the U.S., UN troops in 1961 were deployed to the Congo, where they played a role in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the country’s first prime minister. The U.S. was able to get a UN mandate in 1991 for its massive bombing of the entire Iraqi civilian infrastructure, including water purification plants, irrigation and food processing plants—and for the 13 years of starvation sanctions that resulted in the deaths of over 1.5 million Iraqis. Critics charge that UN troops in Yugoslavia and in Haiti have been

“a cover for U.S. and European intervention and occupation—not peace or reconciliation.” (Flounders, 2006)

Thus caution demands that we heed the words of Almighty God as found in His Book, the Qur’ān ,as our brother Mauri Saalakhan has reminded us with dead-on accuracy, Almighty God, Allāh, states in His Book, the Qur’ān:

“O you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth; or you may harm the people unknowingly, and afterwards become full of regret for what you have done.” (49:6)

Now of course, the balance of world power has shifted significantly (back and forth) over the decades, and the composition of the U.N. has changed dramatically since the 1950s and 1960s. Nonetheless, who would want such characters intervening in the internal affairs of their nation? Hence the Sudānese government’s apprehension and contradiction. They have declared that to let U.N. troops into Darfur would violate their sovereignty. the problem is that U.N. trrops are already in the Sudan as the result of the conflict in the South.

So when divergent groups come together to form an organization like the Save Darfur coalition, and one sees in their ranks or at their events or at their periphery some of the above elements, it raises suspicions amongst the astute. When President George Bush advocates anything pertaining to the conflict in Darfur, it raises suspicion amongst true lovers of freedom, justice and equality for all people.

Again history records that Wolves in Sheep’s clothing will often make “politically correct” statements to suit their own agendas. However good people must still speak out in the name of truth, and not be silent. What they must do is have their own voice and let the truth stand on its own.

Regarding the question of U.N. intervention in the Sudān , what alternative is there to a U.N. action in order to stop the killing there NOW? This is particularly so considering that Muslim countries have seemingly abdicated their responsibility to intervene significantly, in order to save the lives of their fellow Muslims in Dārfūr. Further, it seems that many African nations either lack the will or the resources to effectively intervene, as evidenced by the limitations of the A.U.

One wonders what would have been the response of the Muslim nations if the people of Dārfūr were Arabs, and not Africans or African-Arabs (as opposed to so-called Middle-Eastern Arabs), and had been treated in the same manner by a non-Muslim government? Would they have been so silent and unwilling to intervene? But the precepts of Al- Islām call for a firm stance on justice no matter for or against whom or what.

There is no excuse for failing to denounce the evil that has taken place during the Government of Sudān’s watch. We have obeyed Allāh and ascertained the truth, and we cannot ignore it. Unfortunately, our brothers in faith of the Government of the Sudān have played into the hands of their enemies and ours, by acting like the enemies. That is to deny one’s contradictions instead of acknowledging them, and to kill the messengers exposing those contradictions, instead of heeding them.

An Islāmic prophetic tradition reads :
Anas reported that the Messenger of Allāh (May the Peace and Blessings of Allāhbe upon him) said,

“Support you brother (in Islam) whether he is a wrong-doer or the one wronged”. The Companions said to the Prophet (peace be upon him), “Fine, we understand how to support him if he is wronged. But how are we to support him as an unjust person (wrong-doer)?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “By not letting him commit injustice. Hence, that is your support for him.” (authenticated by At-Tirmidhī)

We must not abandon the people of Dārfūr. They, along with the people of Southern Sudān and the Nuba Mountains, are not the enemies of the Sudānese government. They consider themselves part of the Sudānese nation and so far have expressed that they want to remain that. They simply want to do so on just terms, and they have been willing to die to achieve justice from their fellow Muslim brothers in power. We must help them according to our means.

Likewise, Muslims must not abandon our brothers in the Government of the Sudān, nor should we act recklessly so as to play into the hands of its enemies, who are too often our enemies. We must stop them from committing injustice according to our means, and that will be our support for them.

Amongst African American leaders, Minister Akbar Muhammad stated that a few years ago when allegations of systematic enslavement of indigenous Africans in the Sudān surfaced, his leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan, said to him:

“We have to look into this; because if there are Arabs or non-Arabs, black people making slaves out of other black people, then we have to condemn that action and condemn those who are behind it.”. (Saalakhan, 2004,pg. 81)

Well, there was no systematic enslavement in the Sudān but nonetheless the same logic applies to Dārfūr . The “Black on Black” crimes committed there of an international nature, must be condemned by us, as they should have been condemned by every human being on earth, when crimes against humanity were occurring in Rwanda.

Coming on the heels of the Civil War in the South, and the Nuba Mountain conflict, the crises in Dārfūr and the resulting dilemma posed by real and alleged outrages in the Sudan, has apparently paralyzed the vocal cords of nearly all of the Muslim nations, causing them to commit the sin of silence insofar as a call for justice for the people of Dārfūr is concerned. The Islamic social ethic asserts that silence is consent. We do not consent to what has happened in Dārfūr, and we do not consider the Sudānese rebels, who are in actuality freedom fighters, to be villains.

Some Muslims who have spoken out against the atrocities in Dārfūr appear to be following the lead of others. Thus they have failed to practice self-determination in their analysis of the situation, either giving an impression that Muslims cannot find sufficient motivation within their own beliefs to address such an injustice, or lack the conviction to do so. Still other Muslims have recognized the tragedy, but in seeking to address it have given the impression of being more interested in defending the integrity of the perpetrators, than in securing justice for the victims. Too often these sincere brethren (and/or sisters) sound like apologists for Muslim wrongdoers. Why? Is it because those of the Sudānese government are Muslims? Well so are their victims!

The above quoted verse from the Qur’ān, the Book of revelation for all mankind, establishes the divine imperative for a firm stance based upon justice:

“O You who believe! Stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses unto Allāh, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor. Allāh protects you both (much) better. So follow not the desires (of your hearts), because you may swerve, and if you distort justice, or decline to do justice; surely Allāh is Well-Acquainted with all that you do.” (Qur’ān, 4:135)

This is the charge that must be followed by all Muslims – establish justice and oppose injustice, no matter whom or what. In Al-Islām, justice is an evil that demands repentance and atonement from believing people, based upon both religious edicts and moral imperatives. All Muslims who are made aware of such evil are commanded to confront it by either direct action, or speaking out against it, or to at least take a principled, moral stance against it.

The Prophet Muhammad (May the Peace and Blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:

“Whoever sees an evil let him change it with his hand; if he is unable to then with his tongue; if he is still unable to then he should hate it in his heart, and that is the weakest level of faith.” (authenticated by Muslim)

It seems evident that when it comes to Dārfūr, many Muslim nations and organizations have at best chosen the course of weak faith. However, we, the indigenous Muslims of America, most of whom are of African descent, are part of the global Ummah. A small number of our African Muslim ancestors or their descendants were probably part of the indigenous population that encountered the first settlers on the east coast of America. (Winters, Quick, Weiner, Van Sertima).

Even more importantly, vast numbers, perhaps millions of our ancestors, were taken captive and transported by force from the largely Muslim lands of the African continent, to the land that is now the only one in the West that has a native Muslim population of African descent, the United States of America (Diouf, pp. 203-4). Those African Muslims were at best forced immigrants to the land which was eventually named America, as the result of the same moral injustice and political oppression that now grips Darfur. The minimum number of African American Muslims at least equals the number of African Muslims who have been displaced thus far, in Dārfūr.

We are a de jure nation within the Muslim family of nations, and a legitimate national minority within the confines of The United States (Kly, pp. 9-10). As a Muslim nation by right, we are not bound to unconditionally support any nation (de facto or de jure) that violates our beliefs, morals, and ethics. We cannot and will not be silent at the Dārfūr outrage! My forthcoming book entitled Justice for the People of Darfur: “Hell on Earth Must End!” is meant to serve as the moral, historical, and ideological basis for this manifesto. It focuses upon an injustice that affects every person on earth whether they realize it or not. We believe, as do many of our fellow human beings throughout the planet, that “an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere”.

This author’s work focused upon the Sudān began some five almost six years ago. Guided and accompanied by my friend and colleague (Medgar Evers College professor of African American history) Amir Al-Islam, I met with various parties in Washington D.C. with their hands on the pulse of Africa’s largest country. That included both Muslims and people of other faiths, Sudānese NGO representatives and activists, American elected officials, and others.

I then visited The Sudān in 2002 as part of an independent fact-finding mission investigating the allegations of government sponsored enslavement of indigenous Africans. When the conflict in Dārfūr erupted, I followed the events and attended several informational forums held in the New York City area and beyond. Further, I received on the ground reports from Muslim organizational delegates who visited Dārfūr from the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA, whom I serve as a deputy national leader), and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Then on October 29, 2004 I participated in a meeting of inter-faith leaders with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, specifically about Dārfūr. As a social justice activist dedicated to both Islāmic causes and those impacting African people of the continent and diaspora, I felt compelled to address the various matters contained in this manifesto and the book from which it is derived.

ﺒﺳﻢﷲﺍﻠﺮﺤﻣﺎﻥﺍﻠﺮﺤﻴﻢ
A MUSLIM MANIFESTO ON DARFŪR:
PRINCIPLED SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFLICT IN WESTERN SUDĀN

Based upon the principles of our faith, as Muslims in America we affirm the following principles, and support the following measures, in search of a solution to the conflict in Darfur:

We affirm truth and justice.

Proof: The Almighty God, Allāh, has said in His Book, The Qur’ān:

“O You who believe! Stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses unto Allāh, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor. Allah protects you both (much) better. So follow not the desires (of your hearts) , because you may swerve, and if you distort justice, or decline to do justice; Surely Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do.” (Qur’ān, 4:135)

“If anyone has killed a person –unless it be for murder or for spreading evil and corruption (Arabic, fasad) in the land – it would be as if he has killed the whole people. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the entire people. (5:32)” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “Everything of the Muslim is sacred and inviolable to another Muslim – his blood, his property, and his honor.” (authenticated by Muslim)

We affirm the right of the oppressed people of Darfur to self-defense, and to struggle for freedom, justice and equality by any Islamically lawful means necessary.

Proof: Allāh has said in His Book, The Qur’ān:

(The Believers are those who…) “…when an oppressive wrong is inflicted upon them, (are not cowed, but) help and defend themselves…But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause for blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying peace and justice. For such there will be a penalty grievous.” ” (Q42: 39,41-42)

We support and encourage an immediate ceasefire to all hostilities on the part of the Government of the Sudan (GoS) and all of the Sudanese freedom fighters, as a means for protection of the lives of Darfur’s civilian population.

We encourage and support the immediate disarming of the Janjaweed and all such government sponsored or independently acting paramilitary forces.

Also, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in an authenticated tradition (hadīth), “Help your brother whether he is the oppressed (Arabic, mazlum), or the oppressor (Arabic, zaalim)”. When it was said to him by his Companions May Allah be pleased with them) “O Messenger of Allāh, we understand what it means to help our brother who is oppressed, but how do we help the one who is an oppressor?” He answered, “Put your hand over his hand” ( meaning “stop him from doing what he’s doing”).

We salute the valiant efforts of the 10,000 mostly Sudānese humanitarian workers, who have engaged in relief work on the ground in Dārfūr, and that of other people of various faiths . This includes Doctors Without Borders , and from amongst the Muslims, the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA – an umbrella organization from thirty Muslim countries , who opened an Eye hospital in Dārfūr in Feb. 2006 ,bringing Eye care to two million Dārfūrians for the first time. The Islamic Medical Association of North America was a participant in this initiative).

Proof: Allāh has said in His Book, The Qur’ān,

“Whoever supports and helps a good cause, will have a reward for it. And whoever helps and supports an evil cause shares in its burden. And Allāh has power over all things.” (Q 4: 85)

We further salute the equally valiant work of the African Union (AU) in protecting the lives of the People of Dārfūr.

Proof: Allāh has said in His Book, The Qur’ān,

“Whoever supports and helps a good cause, will have a reward for it. And whoever helps and supports an evil cause shares in its burden. And Allāh has power over all things.” (Q 4: 85)

We deplore the lack of full support for the AU’s work by the international community, and call for the speedy allocation of the necessary funds from the family of nations, for the completion of the AU’s mission to provide human security in the region.

Further, we also deplore the fact the Muslim nations have failed to effectively intervene on behalf of their oppressed Muslim brothers and sisters in Dārfūr who are dying daily as their homes are being destroyed, or living in displacement camps, as are Muslims elsewhere in the world.

Therefore, since there exists no other practical vehicle for the provision of adequate international peacekeeping forces to save these Muslims and stop the killing in Dārfūr IMMEDIATELY, we support the AU’s call for the presence of United Nations troops and personnel in Dārfūr, as elsewhere in the Sudān. Muslim troops should be part of that international force, if not in the vanguard of it. The performance of said U.N. forces should be monitored closely by the international community generally, and the Muslims in particular formally or informally.

Proof: The Almighty God, Allāh has said in His Book, the Qur’ān:

“…If two parties from amongst the believers fall into conflict, make peace between them both. But if one of them exceeds the bounds against the other, then (all of) you fight against the one who transgresses until he complies, then make peace between them with justice, and be equitable and fair. Verily, Allāh loves those who are fair and just.” (49:9)

and,

“…had not Allah checked one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed have been filled with evil .” (Q 2:251)

Also, within the canons of Islāmic jurisprudence, Muslim religious scholars have formulated a legal judgment that it is from the Sunna of Allāh’s Messenger (peace be upon him) for Muslims to seek help from non-Muslims whenever it is necessary to repel an evil threatening life, property and honor. Such a necessity should be assessed they claim, as it is, i.e. as it arises. (Masud,Messick, Powers, Haddad, 1996, pg. 299,303). Other scholars specify that such assistance is only permissible in non-combat situations or capacities (Masud,Messick, Powers, Haddad, 1996, pg. 303, Al-Buti, 2001, pg. 475-6) We call upon the Government of the Sudan to admit the presence of said U.N. troops, for the purpose of safety and security for the civilians of Dārfūr . They have already done so in resolution of the former conflict in the Southern region of their country. Why not in Dar Fur?

We support and encourage a return of all parties to the negotiation table for the purpose of arbitration, mediation, and authentic reconciliation.

and The Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “Sulh (negotiated compromise) is permissible between Muslims..” (authenticated by At-Tirmith), Ibn Mājah, and Abū Dawūd)

As Muslims, we encourage our brothers in faith to take advantage of the spirit of the Islāmic months of Ramadān specifically, and Shawwāl through Dhul-Hijja generally, to begin this process anew.

Proof:

“The believers are a single brotherhood. So make reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers, and fear Allāh, that you might receive His Mercy.” (Q 49:10)

We support the various short-term measures and activities designed to bring comfort and care to the people of Dārfūr, thus saving civilian lives. These include increased humanitarian assistance for refugees and displaced persons, and increased access for these humanitarian forces and organizations, peace keeping missions, parties charged with the responsibility to protect civilians, the pursuit of war crime charges, and peace conferences designed to solve the crises by peaceful means.

Proof:

And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the entire people (Q 5:32)

and

We support and encourage the establishment of those rights of life, limb, property and honor due to the people of Dārfūr, in accordance with Islāmic principles.

Proof: Allāh has said in His Book, The Qur’ān:

“O you who believe! Fulfill all obligations!”

and The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

“Everything of the Muslim is sacred and inviolable to another Muslim – his blood, his property, and his honor.” (authenticated by Muslim)

We support the lodging of criminal proceedings against those found responsible in a just judicial proceeding, for the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Dārfūr.

Proof:

“Contend not on behalf of such as betray their own souls; for Allāh loves not those given to perfidy and crime; They may hide (their crimes) from men, but they cannot hide them from Allāh, seeing that He is with them when they plot by night…” (Q 4:107-8),

and

“The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying peace and justice. For such there will be a penalty grievous.” ” (Q42:42)

We support compensation for damages, injury, loss of life and property, for all Dārfūrians and their families, who have been victimized by these criminal acts.

Proof : Allāh has said in His Book, The Qur’ān:

“…And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand Qisās – equal retaliation or compensation, or to forgive). But let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life, for he is helped (by the law).” (Q 17:33)

and,

“Say ‘my Lord has commanded justice.” (7:29)

We support and encourage the establishment of an authentic and just peace that addresses the political, social, and economic needs of the people of Dārfūr. Islāmic law and principle requires the “putting of a thing in the place where the Divine Law (Shārī’ah) put it, and giving everything its right position or judgment.” (Zidan,pg. 119) Therefore, as a long-term measure for securing safety and security for the people of Dārfūr, including:

Land security and a policy for equitable redistribution of the land for the people of Dārfūr;

The re-establishment of a legal and judicial order in the land of Dārfūr, based upon the its Sultānic and customary laws;

The establishment and empowerment of local leadership that truly represents the people, based upon the Islamic principle of mutual consultation (shūrā) amongst the parties impacted by the decision to be made, as specified in the Qur’ān. (O’Fahey, 2006, pp 10-12)

Proof Allāh has said in His Book, Qur’ān, [The Believers are those who]

“…conduct their affairs by mutual consultation (shūrā).” (42:38)

Finally, we pray in all sincerity for the people of the nation of the Sudān, government and civilians alike. We pray for forgiveness of their sins, for healing and reconciliation, protection, comfort, peace, safety and security, for all of its citizens. We pray for justice for all of them, and for all of humanity, amīn (amen).